Murder Trial
See also: Death of Joseph Smith: TrialAfter Joseph Smith, Jr. and his brother Hyrum were killed at Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844, Williams was accused of having ordering his 59th Regiment to take part in the storming of the jail. At trial, Williams and four other defendants were acquitted by a jury of the murders.
According to "Wild Bill" Hickman, Williams told him that because the Mormons "ruled the county elected whom they pleased ... the old settlers had no chance". Killing the Smiths, Williams claimed, "was the only way they could get rid of them."
Williams died on November 20, 1860 at his farm in Green Plains, Illinois of a stroke. Williams, previously a member of the Whig party, joined the Republican party and was most proud of his vote for Abraham Lincoln shortly before his death.
Read more about this topic: Levi Williams
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